Space Knights: The Arrival by Gregory Samuelson (buy e reader .TXT) 📕

sure that all the deep sleep chambers were working properly and to see that their ships were in proper formation for the journey. They also monitored as the first boosters were released from the ships and the second boosters kicked in and pushed them even faster. After several more minutes the second boosters were released and the third and final boosters fired up. Finally these boosters were released and the nuclear engines kicked in taking them the rest of the way.

Back on Earth the coming of Christ ushered in the fulfillment of prophecies about tribulation, Armageddon, and final judgment and redemption. Jesus had arrived and the Earth was redeemed. As these events took shape, the Lord watched the Sparrow XIV take flight and carry Trance and his family to another world. Unknown to them, they would see the beginning of the redemption of other worlds. One day in the future the events of Trance’s arrival would set in motion the pattern for redemption that would take place. On that day Christ would go there and continue to build his kingdom across the universe. Ultimately every inhabited world would be redeemed.

Chapter 4

Close Call

During the next three days the crews of the global escape ships communicated with each other, trying to figure out what was going on. Some ships reported that they had missing passengers and others wanted information on the nuclear missile launches; who had ordered the missile launches and would they be successful. If they did succeed, when would they have to turn around and return to Earth?

For two more days they received very sketchy information from the control centers on Earth, which were themselves trying to figure out what had happened. On the third day the ships lost all communications with Earth. Assuming that this meant that their home world was lost, the crews of the escape ships continued as planned. They started planning out the next phase in the journey.

The crew of the Sparrow XIV planned out their schedule for the next two weeks. They planned out their meals and how they would enter their own deep sleep chambers. They set up a routine of checking on all of their passengers and making sure their chambers were still operating properly. They did their best to keep healthy and alert and make sure that the ship was in proper working order. They also kept check to make sure they were still on course and in proper formation for their flight through space.

The ship’s computers and monitoring equipment were programmed to keep track of certain stars so that they had a permanent check for their course readings. The ship’s computers also kept track of the nuclear engines and monitored their speed, which was reaching an incredible rate. The designers of the engines could not have imagined how fast they would propel the ships. In mere days the ships were past the Moon, and then Mars flew past.

The crew held its breath as they came up to the asteroid belt, and the ship very carefully navigated through it. The ship continued to accelerate as they zoomed toward Jupiter and its moons. With great awe they saw a storm on Jupiter and a few days later they gasped at the rings of Saturn. The crew onboard the Sparrow XIV patted themselves on the back and felt very lucky to be awake and able to see the glories of the solar system that they had lived in and studied for years. Every sight was fascinating and to see them this close was amazing, yet they knew that they would never see them again. They also knew that they had to go to their chambers soon.

At last they could not put off entering their chambers any longer. They started off the day by having a hearty breakfast and then went and checked all of their passengers to ensure that everything was working. The four-man crew then went through their regular schedule of exercise and saw that they were still in formation and that they were still on course. Then they had a good lunch and very reluctantly went to their own chambers.

The captain of the ship checked the others out and went through the routine with them and checked out their chambers. All of them got into their suits for the deep sleep chambers. One by one they climbed into the chambers with the captain being the last. He had complimented each one of the others in turn and made sure that the lids closed and were secured and sealed. At last he was the last person roaming the ship. He went and made one last check to ensure that everything was as it should be and then went for a last look out at the stars. He said a small prayer for himself and for the ship and its passengers before going to his own chamber.

Slowly he climbed in and made sure the chamber was set to automatically close and start up. He breathed very deeply as he watched the lid close and knew he wouldn’t wake for eons, not until the ship was a month away from the new world. He relaxed, thinking that he would be one of the first to see the new solar system and planets. As he fell asleep he believed that God would watch over them and see them through this trip.

The Sparrow XIV and the other escape ships flew on past the three outer planets of the solar system and away from their home world. On they flew, streaking through the vastness of space and at the same time the Earths nuclear arsenal sped toward the approaching planet. The missiles finally hit the planet and did what they were supposed to do. Thousands of nuclear warheads erupted and completely destroyed the planet. Melthor’s moon ceased to exist.

***

All of Heaven was aware of the silent ships speeding their way across space. They knew that the passengers didn’t know that the route they were flying